Track torpedo



Nov. 19, 1940. L, v I\. 2,222,340

TRACK TORPEDO Filed April 24, 1939 INVENTOR LOUIE A SHERMAN I BY A ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 19, 1940 TRACK TORPEDO corporation of li/llisseuri Application April 24, 1929, Serial No. 269,692

5 @laims.

This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in track torpedoes and has for its primary objects the provision of a cheaply and economically manufactured track torpedo including a detonable member and mounting strap uniquely formed for quickly and conveniently attaching the detonable member securely -upon the track-rail and constructed of such nonfusible metal as to eliminate destructive disruption and disengagement from the rail on explosion or detonation of the detonable member.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure l is a perspective view of a track torpedo constructed in accordance with and embodying my present invention; and

Figures 2 and 3 are end and side elevational views, respectively, of the torpedo in operative installed or engaged disposition upon a railwayrail.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, the torpedo includes a preferably waterproofed detonable body-member or tablet A constructed preferably in the shape or form of an axial section of a right cylinder and having a substantially fiat under face B provided with an axially extending rectangular channel or recess 2.

Extending longitudinally through, and being of width and thickness sufficient to flatwise fit snugly within, the channel or recess 2, is a mounting strap B formed preferably of non-fusible sheet metal, such as, for instance, galvanized sheet iron, held in place by a section 8 of more or less readily rupturable material, such as paper, for instance, preferably forming an integral portion of the outer wrapping of the detonable body member or table A. The strap B extends preferably equidistantly outwardly from the opposite ends of the detonable body member A in the provision of relatively flat end-portion suitably elongated for fastening engagement with the ball of a standard railway-rail and each including a section a preferably bowed slightly upwardly from the plane of the body under face i and a reversely bent obliquely disposed intermediate section b, the latter being, in turn, at its outer extremity bent substantially at right angles in the provision of a terminal section 0, which is finally bent inwardly upon itself at angle in the formation of a somewhat resilient tongue d. Normally, prior to use, and when packed for shipment or storage, the sections 22, c, d, of the strap B are compactly bent or tucked under or beneath the under face i of the bodymember A, as shown in Figure 1.

In use, the terminal sections a of the opposite end-portions of the strap B are gripped and swung downwardly and outwardly until the intermediate sections 1) are substantially at right angles to the relatively or approximately straight sections a. The torpedo may then be quickly slipped over, and by means of the strap B, in a type of self-adjusting spring-clip action secured to and upon, the ball C of the rail. The respective angles K between the terminal sections 0 and the engaging tongues d of the strap B are preferably selected, so that the. clip tongues :1 will engage in facewise abutment with the under side l of the rail ballor head C, and so that also, when the tongues d are in such described engaging relation with the rail, the intermediate strapsections 2) will be disposed in substantially parallel outwardly spaced relationship to the op: posed vertical side faces 5 of the rail ball C and the end tongues (1 will, at the same time, be placed under a slight amount of compressive force, co-operating with the bowed portion a to cause the strap B to adjust or accommodate itself snugly and securely regardless of variations in size of positions of the rail. And when the torpedo is so engaged with and secured upon the rail, the mid section a of the strap B, which is disposed within the channel or recess 2 of the detonable body A, will be in more or less tangential contact with the central portion of the crowned or arcuate upper face 6 of the rail ball C, all as best seen in Figures 2 and 3.

As a wheel of a locomotive travels over the secured or mounted torpedo, the detonable member A will be exploded, producing the desired signal. The force of the explosion will tear the rupturable section s, so that the exploding body or pellet A will tend to disintegrate, so to speak, outwardly away from the strap 13. The strap 13, furthermore, is of such non-fusible metal as to eliminate disruption or separation from the rail under the heat and force of the explosion of the body or member A. And as subsequent locomotive or car wheels pass over the strap B, the cen tral portion thereof, which was initially disposed within the channel or recess 2 of the detonable body member A and remains after explosion in more or less tangential contact with the upper face 6 of the rail ball C, will gradually be worn I finally and completely severed, the inherent resilience of the metal from which the strap is fabricated, together with the moderate compression or spring-like action of the clip portion or tongues d of the strap B, will cause the severed portions of the strap B to fall outwardly and downwardly away from the rail head B, such outward and downward movement being more or less gentle and unaccompanied by any force that could result in injury to a bystander or to the exposed mechanical parts on the under side of a passing train.

It should be understood that changes and mod- 7 ifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the torpedo may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention. I Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A track torpedo comprising a detonable body, and mounting means including a bendable strap extending laterally outwardly on opposite sides of the detonable'body and bent at right angles in the provision of parallel side sections spaced apart by a distance substantially greater than the horizontal width of the rail ball, said side 7 sections being integrallyprovided at their ends with inwardly bent horizontal terminal portions each having a reversely bent resilient leaf-spring section for facewise engagement with the under side of the rail ball. f 2. A track torpedo'including a detonable member; and an elongated metallic strap operatively associated with said member, said strap integrally comprising initial top sections extending outwardly on opposite sides of said member in the plane of the under face thereof and straight side sections disposed obliquely to said top sections, said side sections being provided at their ends with resilient inwardly extending substantially horizontal terminal sections provided at their ends with engagement tongues reversely bent at an angle to the terminal portion, which angle is substantially equal to the angle at which the under face of the rail ball is inclined to a horizontal plane for shock cushioning engagement with the inclined under face of the rail ball for holding said member resiliently thereupon and absorbing rail vibration'without material fiexure of the side or top sections.

3. A track torpedo including a detonable member, and an elongated metallic strap operatively associated with said member, said strap comprising top sections extending outwardly on opposite sides of the detonable member in the plane of the under face thereof and straight side sections disposed obliquely to the top sections, said side sections being provided at their ends with inwardly bent terminal sections, which are, in turn, provided at their ends with reversely bent resilient tongues for shock-cushioning engagement with the inclined under face of the rail ball for holding the detonable member upon the upper face of the rail and absorbing rail vibration without material flexure of the side or top sections.

4. A track torpedo including a detonable member, and a U-shaped mounting strap attached centrally of its bight to the under face of the torpedo and being provided at the outer extremity of its legs with formed terminal sections extending inwardly at right angles to the leg ends and being provided at their inner extremities with reversely bent resilient spring tongues for fiatwise abutting yielding engagement against the under face of the rail ball.

5. A track torpedo including a detonable member, and a U-shaped mounting strap attached centrally of its bight to the under face of the torpedo and being provided at the outer extremity of its legs with formed terminal sections extending inwardly at right angles to the leg ends and being provided at their inner extremities with free-swinging resilient tongues extending upwardly and inwardly at an oblique angle to the terminal portions for flatwise yielding engagement with the under face of the rail ball.

LOUIEi A. SHERMAN. 

